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Record-Breaking R-Rated Films That Made Movie History

Record-Breaking R-Rated Films That Made Movie History

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Courtesy of Warner Bros.

50. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

49. There's Something About Mary (1998)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

48. Fifty Shades Freed (2018)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

47. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

46. Fifty Shades Darker (2017)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

45. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

44. 1917 (2019)

Courtesy of Mister Smith Entertainment

43. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

42. Prometheus (2012)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

41. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

40. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

39. The Bodyguard (1992)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

38. Rain Man (1988)

Courtesy of United Artists

37. Sex and the City (2008)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

36. Bad Boys For Life (2020)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

35. The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

34. The Exorcist (1973)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

33. The King's Speech (2010)

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

32. A Star is Born (2018)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

31. Pretty Woman (1990)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

30. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Courtesy of Lionsgate Films

29. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

28. Django Unchained (2012)

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

27. Gladiator (2000)

Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution

26. 300 (2006)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

25. The Last Samurai (2003)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

24. Lucy (2014)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

23. The Hangover (2009)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

22. The Matrix (1999)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

21. It: Chapter Two (2019)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

20. Troy (2004)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

19. Les Intouchables (2011)

Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

18. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution

17. Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-Hen (Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village) (2023)

Courtesy of Aniplex of America

16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

15. Mei Ren Yu (The Mermaid) (2016)

Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing

14. The Revenant (2015)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

13. Tang Ren Jie Tan An 2 (Detective Chinatown 2) (2018)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

12. American Sniper (2014)

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

11. Ted (2012)

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

10. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

9. The Hangover Part II (2011)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

8. Logan (2017)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

7. The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Courtesy of Newmarket Films

6. It (2017)

Courtesy of New Line Cinema

5. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

4. Deadpool (2016)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

3. Deadpool 2 (2018)

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

2. Oppenheimer (2023)

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

1. Joker (2019)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

50. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
49. There's Something About Mary (1998)
48. Fifty Shades Freed (2018)
47. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)
46. Fifty Shades Darker (2017)
45. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
44. 1917 (2019)
43. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
42. Prometheus (2012)
41. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
40. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
39. The Bodyguard (1992)
38. Rain Man (1988)
37. Sex and the City (2008)
36. Bad Boys For Life (2020)
35. The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
34. The Exorcist (1973)
33. The King's Speech (2010)
32. A Star is Born (2018)
31. Pretty Woman (1990)
30. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
29. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)
28. Django Unchained (2012)
27. Gladiator (2000)
26. 300 (2006)
25. The Last Samurai (2003)
24. Lucy (2014)
23. The Hangover (2009)
22. The Matrix (1999)
21. It: Chapter Two (2019)
20. Troy (2004)
19. Les Intouchables (2011)
18. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
17. Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-Hen (Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village) (2023)
16. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
15. Mei Ren Yu (The Mermaid) (2016)
14. The Revenant (2015)
13. Tang Ren Jie Tan An 2 (Detective Chinatown 2) (2018)
12. American Sniper (2014)
11. Ted (2012)
10. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
9. The Hangover Part II (2011)
8. Logan (2017)
7. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
6. It (2017)
5. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
4. Deadpool (2016)
3. Deadpool 2 (2018)
2. Oppenheimer (2023)
1. Joker (2019)

The movie rating system has evolved significantly over the past century. From the silent film era, which included quite racy content to the evolution of "talkies," a period when movie content moved in exploratory directions to 1968 when the Motion Picture Association of America established a system of movie ratings for parents to use as a guide, how movies are watched today is nothing like the past.

Many post-silent film era movies flirted with graphic nudity and positive portrayals of criminals and other villains. This period, from 1929 to 1934, was a time of bold subject matter known as Pre-Code Hollywood. It led to the creation in 1934 of the first-ever movie rating system, the Hays Code, which was used until the current rating system replaced it in 1968. This is when the R-rating came into play.

At the time, an R-rating meant persons under 16 couldn't see a film without a parent or guardian present. The age minimum was later updated to 17. This rating typically indicates adult material or material intended for mature audiences, which can range from harsh language, violence, drug use, alcoholic drinking, and sexual images.

Not all R-rated movies are created the same, however. Some movies transcend their restrictive rating and became record-breaking R-rated films that made movie history. (For lesser-known R-rated movies, check out The Best R-Rated Movies You Probably Haven't Seen.)

Here are record-breaking R-rated films that made movie history:

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